A convenient 15-minute drive or taxi from Ashford International Station (or an hour and 20 minutes from London); this is a campsite in the heartland of Kent that still boasts easy connections to highfalutin life in central London. No matter where you’re coming from, though, Gooseberry Field offers a true escape into rural seclusion. Comprised of five lovingly furnished bell tents, a tipi and a vintage 70’s caravan, it’s a place that very much appeals to all tastes and budgets. Those with their own bell tents are also welcome and, if you fancy the glamping style but don’t want every trimming, you can even rent a bell tent without the interior furnishings.
Whatever you choose, comforts at Gooseberry Field extend far beyond a well-made bed. Spread around a five acre field, the campsite drops down a grassy tier to where a raised, south-facing terrace provides space to kick back in the sun or enjoy the sparkly night sky. Most dawdling at this spot is done while someone stokes the wood-fired hot tub a short walk away. There’s no denying it’s one of the site’s quirky treasures, a real luxury for any camping holiday.
In keeping with the ‘Good Life’ aspirations of anyone moving out of London, there’s an element of renewed agricultural activity here. Pigs provide sausages and bacon for breakfasts, chickens provide eggs, a small veg patch bursts with seasonal produce and, beside the terrace, a herb garden means you can garnish your barbequed meat with freshly picked rosemary. The ancient orchard origins are also being restored. Though almost all of the original apple trees are gone, the few remaining provide ample produce for homemade cider each autumn and John and Kerstin have now planted a further 150 trees along with, of course, a cluster of gooseberry bushes that give the site its name.
It’s no surprise, then, that cooking is a fairly central part of life here and not the usual hindrance to a rural camping trip. Nice touches like cool boxes and Dutch ovens at every pitch mean you’re well facilitated to tackle recipes over the campfire, while on the terrace a large wood fired oven is perfect for cooking pizzas or slow roasting dishes overnight. There's also a charcoal bbq and a superb hot smoker, available for all to use.
Beyond the campsite the quaint little village Pluckley has a resistance against commercialisation that suits its name, with a tiny grocery store and a proper independent butcher, plus there’s a handy farm shop to finish of the job. With all that on the doorstep you could easily stay the weekend and never need the car!
Hosted by Kerstin ?.
Joined in March 2015
The village of Pluckley is a small, traditional spot with a post-office and grocery store, a butcher, a church, a school and a decent pub – The Black Horse. Wander the 15 minutes into its centre and discover it’s charming cottages with the typical round-arched Pluckley windows, which are supposed to bring good luck, though perhaps aren't working given the place's status as 'the most haunted village in England'. Take advantage of the many local footpaths by joining the surrounding trails, with a particularly easily accessible footpath just around the corner of the camping field. Another great spot to explore on foot is the ancient Dering Woods, covering 308 acres and riddled with easy ambling routes.
A breakfast hamper with locally produced organic products can be added to the booking. Hampers includes, bacon, sausages, half a dozen eggs, a loaf of bread, jam, two pints of milk, a bottle of apple juice, coffee and tea. The campsite also has a great farm shop a couple of minutes walk away – Pluckley Farm Shop (01233 840400) – which sells a wide range of excellent locally-sourced food. Bread tends to run out quick in the morning but the campsite can reserve you some, so be sure to ask! Pubwise the Rose and Crown (01233 840048) is a couple of minutes drive or a 25 minute walk and serves excellent food, while the Dering Arms (01233 840371) is a lovely gastro pub with some fine wines. There's also a post office, butcher and grocery store in Pluckley centre (about a 15 minute walk) and opposite is another pub with great comfort food, The Black Horse (01233 841948).
